House representatives have agreed to the Veterans Affairs Department's request to shift part of the federal budget to keep VA hospitals open.
The House included a late amendment to a highway-funding bill.
The amendment reallocates $3.5 billion to the VA's Choice program. The money is coming from a similar program that allows for veterans to seek care in their community when a VA appointment is inconvenient or unavailable.
"The bill is designed to rescue a mismanaged VA, providing the resources to keep the doors open, expanding access and choice to veterans and setting the stage to consolidate VA's uncoordinated and wasteful non-VA care programs into the Veterans Choice Program," said Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), chairman of House Committee on Veterans Affairs.
VA Secretary Robert McDonald asked for the change last week during a hearing before the House committee, saying that without the move, the department would be forced to shut down VA hospitals and clinics.
Lawmakers said they would not allow that to happen, but criticized VA administrators for announcing the budget issue with only a few months left in the fiscal year.
McDonald has previously said technical issues prevented the agency from identifying the problem earlier. McDonald also has said the VA's static budget is not covering the changing needs and requirements of the agency.
He said as much as $500 million is going to treat VA patients with hepatitis C. A single pill for the liver-wasting viral infection can cost up to $1,000.
